Continuing our series of travel team previews, we turn our attention to the Florida Sons, an Adidas-backed program out of Bradenton. We caught up with Head Coach Loren Jackson to discuss the team and his expectations for this coming season.

“Our goal is to develop the players into the best possible version of themselves”, said Jackson. “The focus is on improving the players’ ability to make winning plays and getting them to play hard each and every possession. That in turn should provide scholarship opportunities, especially with the number of coaches that attend the Adidas Gauntlet sessions that we will participate in during the live periods of April and July.”

“We are looking for big things from Diallo this year”, stated Jackson. “He’s got great size, protects the rim and rebounds well at the defensive end. Offensively, he’s becoming more comfortable handling the double-team and finding open teammates. Dos Anjos will be taking a prep year. He’s an excellent athlete, solid defender and improving perimeter shooter. Achor has a 7’3 wing span and is a versatile forward. He can play inside as well as step out and score on the perimeter. Mag could be our best prospect. He’s strong, athletic and an improving shooter.

In the backcourt, Jackson will turn the reigns over to 6’2 junior Kolton Mitchell of Bradenton’s Victory Rock Prep. Running along with him will be 6’9 junior Kuany Kuany, 6’5 sophomore Anyiarbany “Jackson” Makoi, 6’5 junior Jalen White of St. Pete’s Lakewood, and 6’3 senior Jack Youmans from Naples.

“Mitchell is a solid decision maker with the ball in his hands”, according to Jackson. “He is also an active and aggressive on-ball defender. Kuany has great size out on the perimeter. He handles and passes the ball well and must be respected from beyond the three-point line. Makoi is a combo guard that will see time at both guard spots. A long and good athlete, he sees the floor well and is solid playmaker. White fits in to how we like to play. He’s versatile, can play a lot of different positions and has a great basketball pedigree. Youmans is another guy that plans to take a prep year. He played with us last season and he’s a solid shooting guard that stretches the defense.”